Apple is highlighting the Black History Month celebration this year and has launched a limited-edition Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 and a Black Unity Sport Band, both of which are now available to order in the United States and a few other countries.
A close up of the black unity Apple watch is custom made for the occasion of the Black History month celebrations. It has the words Black Unity written on its space gray aluminum case. It has a Black Unity sport band, drawing inspiration from the colours of the Pan-African flag, and the band’s metal pin has a custom laser-written message that reads “Truth – Power – Solidarity.”
The Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 will sell at $399, while the Black Unity Sport Band is also available to order separately for $49. Due to limited numbers, Apple has said the watch will only be available in February 2021, while the band is expected to remain available throughout the year. Orders could take a few days currently estimated to ship in one business day on Apple’s online store.
The limited-edition Apple Watch is complemented by the new “Unity” watch face in watchOS 7.3, also based on the Pan-African flag.
Apple had previously supported causes that promote and support the pursuit of racial equity for minority and disadvantaged groups in the US and even beyond.
An unboxing video of the Black Unity Watch Series 6 on YouTube has been shared by Rafael Zeier. Check out the video below.
Apple says it will continue to support organizations dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice in the United States and globally, including the Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation, the European Network Against Racism, the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights, the Leadership Conference Education Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., and Souls Grown Deep.
In 2017, Google announced the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL which were made by HTC and LG respectively. However, Google’s plan was to have HTC make the Pixel 2 XL but it canceled it and went with LG instead. There were reports that the HTC U11+ was the canceled Pixel 2 XL but a hands-on video of the HTC-made Pixel 2 XL which was codenamed ‘muskie’ has now appeared on the internet and it looks nothing like the HTC U11+.
The video was posted on the web by the YouTube channel, Calyx Hikari, and it gives us a good look at the phone. As you can see, the phone has pretty huge bezels that are not only thicker than those of the HTC U11+ but also thicker than those of the Pixel 2 XL. HTC’s phone would have gone well with the Pixel 2 as that too had thick bezels and a 16:9 display.
On the back, ”muskie” is shown to have a similar design to that of the Pixel 2 XL – a two-tone finish and a single camera that is on the left side of the phone. It also has a fingerprint scanner just below the upper part of the glass.
The video shows the device is operated with a wireless mouse as it doesn’t respond to touch input. We get to see the ”About Section” of the phone and it confirms the phone is ”muskie”. It is also shown to be running Android Oreo with May 2017’s security patch.
Google probably decided to go with an 18:9 display instead of the 16:9 display of HTC’s phone which is why this phone never got released. It was a wise decision as quite a number of manufacturers had ditched the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio for the trendy 18:9 aspect ratio.
The latest benchmark report on Samsung’s flagship processor the Exynos 2100 may have confirmed that the hype and buzz around the processor weren’t misplaced after all. The Exynos 2100, as per the benchmark numbers, has made significant improvements in power efficiency and overall performance in comparison with its predecessor, the Exynos 990.
The benchmark surfaced on YouTube via the account Golden Reviewer and contains performance and power efficiency ratings for premium smartphone processors between 2020 and 2021.
The Exynos 990’s M5 (big) and Cortex-A76 (mid) CPU cores got 30.95 points and 21.54 points, respectively, while the Exynos 2100’s Cortex-X1 (big) and Cortex-A78 (mid) CPU cores garnered 39.61 points and 35.71 points, respectively.
In terms of power efficiency, the Exynos 2100 also surpassed the 990 for both big and medium CPU cores. reflecting massive improvements over the 990. The implication is that after taking some flak in the aftermath of the Exynos 990, the tech giant silently worked on a solution that has proved very solid.
The Exynos 2100 may therefore be the reason why Galaxy S21 models performed better, with longer battery life than the Galaxy S20 devices.
However, the Exynos 2100 could not outperform the latest Snapdragon processor, the Snapdragon 888. It has a slightly better CPU performance and power efficiency compared to the Exynos 2100 but The latest mobile processor offering from Samsung is still better than the Snapdragon 865+ and the Kirin 9000.
The GPU of the Snapdragon 888 is marginally better than the Exynos 2100, although the Exynos 2100 seems to have a better power management rating as it is cooler when compared to the Snapdragon 888. A YouTube video has shown Exynos and Snapdragon versions of the Galaxy S21 running various CPU, GPU, and overall benchmarks. The heat and temperature measurements for the Exynos was better.
The Xiaomi Mijia Writing Tablet is designed to make teaching fun for kids and help adults be more creative with art. By default, it has dust-free ink that is healthy and eco-friendly. At present, this device is up for sale on Banggood and can be purchased at a discounted price for just $16.29 (original price $22). Let’s take a look at some of its features.
Xiaomi Mijia Writing Tablet features a 10-inch LCD screen that adopts a liquid crystal film formula that displays crisp letters in blue-green handwriting. Its pressure-sensing technology changes the writing according to the force applied. The LCD screen consumes less energy even when the screen is cleared multiple times a day. It comes with a lightweight magnetic stylus for convenient storage. With 7mm thickness and ultra-thin body, this Xiaomi tablet is easy to carry.
Xiaomi Mijia Tablet is built to meet the creative needs of both children and adults alike. All interested users can purchase this tablet for just $16.29 (original price $22) at Banggood. This deal is up for just today, so hurry and make the most of it.
Nokia 8.3 5G launched with Android 10 out of the box. Today, a post on the community page announced that the latest Android 11 update for the device has started rolling out.
A post on the Nokia Community page by Dipankar paul shows(via) the details of the Android 11 rollout for the Nokia 8.3 5G. He says that the company has begun the rollout but will carry it out in Phases(waves) to ensure a smooth rollout.
The countries to receive the update in the 1st wave of rollout are: Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tunisia, the UAE, the US, and Vietnam.
Going by the name ‘1st wave’ you should have realized by now that a subsequent follow-up of rollout including the UK will continue after this. In fact, the post says that 10% of people will get now, 50% by Feb 5th. By Feb 7th, every one of these markets will have received the Android 11 update.
For features, you can expect all the goodies of Android 11 like chat bubbles(conversations), media controls, improved permission management, and organized notifications. Further, a screenshot shared by Nokiamob shows that the software version V2.180 weighing 1.80GB brings the latest January 2021 security patch.
That said, Nokia 8.3 runs UI which is based on the Android One program the overall interface will most likely remain the same i.e stock Android with very fewer customizations. Either way, the update is a bit late looking at its schedule, and let’s hope Nokia doesn’t mess it up further for other devices.
The Chinese smartphone market is a very competitive one with several key players vying for consumers’ money. IDC has released its report for the year 2020 and it shows that Huawei is still the leader in its home country and by no small margin.
At the top of the list sits Huawei with a total shipment of 124.9 million units, giving it a market share of 38.3%. However, that figure is a significant drop from 2019’s 140.6 million units. While the pandemic definitely affected sales, we also think that Huawei’s limited supply of parts may have affected the drop in total shipments.
Vivo comes in at second place with 57.5 million shipments and a market share of 17.7%. In 2019, it shipped a total of 66.5 million units and had a market share of 18.1%. OPPO follows closely behind with a market share of 17.4% and total shipments of 56.7 million units.
Xiaomi comes in at the fourth spot with 39 million shipments and a market share of 12%. In 2019, it shipped 40 million units and its market share was 10.9%.
Apple shipped a total of 36.1 million units, almost 4 million more than it shipped in 2019. its market share also increased from 8.9% in 2019 to 11.1% in 2020. As you can see, save for Apple, all the other brands on the top five list recorded a drop in the total number of smartphones shipped in 2020.
Other brands accounted for the remaining 11.5 million units of the 325.7 million total smartphones shipped in 2020.
We expect the smartphone market to pick up this year now that there is a vaccine for the coronavirus. Also, Huawei may have a difficult year unless the U.S. ban is lifted and it can get components for its smartphones.
realme is gearing up to launch the realme X7 series of smartphones in less than two days. The series will have realme X7, realme X7 Pro where the former is likely a rebadged realme V15 from China. While the company has almost confirmed everything about the Pro variant, the realme India & Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has just showcased a transparent version.
In a tweet, Madhav Showed off a Transparent version of the realme X7 Pro in style. As you can see below, the images show a rear panel that is fully wiped off its color scheme. Most part of the rear appears black beneath showing how the inside of the rear would look like. Going by the leaked specs, some of the black portions should be the NFC coil.
Labeled as a ‘DEMO PHONE’, its transparency even goes to the extent of the sides looking shiny in the lighting. We can also spot the rectangular rear-camera layout with rounded corners. Interestingly, the Flash layout seems to be tucked in the layout with a Ribbon cable from the board and not sorted onto it.
This is not the only time we are seeing transparent versions of the device. Companies like Razer(with Razer Phone 2) and Xiaomi went ahead and itself launched a Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition back in 2018. And followed it with the Mi 9. OnePlus also tried its luck with a JerryRigEverything-inspired Creator Case for OnePlus Nord that shows how an internals would look like.
Transparent back panels have gained their own set of audience over the years. Advancements like Electrochromism have paved the way for future devices debuting with transparent panels. These glasses, which having color-changing characteristics, are very close to becoming real.
Coming back, the realme X7 Pro, is probably coming to India in Aeroline Black, Skyline White, and an Iridescent(C-Color gradient in China) colors. Hence, we aren’t really sure if the company will launch a ‘Transparent Version’ as the ‘Special Edition’.
Would you buy a Transparent edition of the realme X7 Pro if it launches in India? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Fitbit is a famous brand known for manufacturing top-notch fitness tracking devices/ wearables. As of now, Amazon is offering up to $40 off on Fitbit products. Hence, this is the perfect time for all fitness enthusiasts to give their devices an upgrade or buy new ones. This deal is up only for a limited period, so make the most of it while you can.
We have narrowed down the best deals for you; keep reading to know more.
This smartwatch comes with a built-in GPS to track the pace and distance of outdoor exercises while the active zone minutes notifies the user when they have met the target. Through its 24/7 heart rate tracking, this Fitbit smartwatch accurately measures calorie burn. Other prominent features include 5ATM water-resistance, 7-day battery life, music and app control, and real-time workout tracking with 20+ goal-based exercises.
Fitbit Versa 2 has Alexa to help the user set reminders, timers and get updates about news and weather. It is designed to track heart rate and sleep patterns to help one reach their ultimate fitness peak. Smartphone updates, music control, water-resistance, app control, and real-time workout tracking with 20+ goal-based exercises are some of its other key features.
With the current Amazon deals, these smartwatches are an ideal pick for personal use or gifting. Since this is a limited time offer, hurry and make the most of it.
OPPO was one of the early adopters of the pop-up camera mechanism along with the sister Vivo. The company also patents weird designs every now and then. Recently, we saw a circular pop-up camera module patented by OPPO. Today, we have another but this time it’s a double-sided design with a reflective mirror.
The patent, filed by OPPO at WIPO(World Intellectual Property Office) and spotted by LetsGoDigital has been applied in March 2020 and published later that year in October. Accordingly, the design shows a flat display upfront and clean as a slate rear panel. You might wonder where are the cameras right? Well, OPPO has decided it to hide like Xiaomi.
Last week, we saw a Xiaomi patent having a smartphone design with a reflective mirror. Similarly, OPPO is using a light path deflection mirror on its pop-up camera. However, OPPO’s patent shows not one but two mirrors(shape of mirror/prism Δ). Additionally, OPPO is making only the reflective mirrors move up and down so as to keep the cameras intact.
With pop-up design sitting flush and cameras facing up, the mirrors are kept perpendicular to them generally but can be altered to vary the type of photos you want. This enables it to use them both as Selfie and Rear cameras. And the fact that it can draw light from left/right sides is just the icing on the cake for 360˚ panorama shots.
To customize this, OPPO is said to use a button on the side as per the patent. Triggering it once will turn them into Selfie shooters whereas pressing it twice will point it backward. Other features like Single Camera activation at a time could also be possible as per the report.
Besides, when technology is moving towards under-display cameras, companies like Samsung have also been trying various designs of pop-up mechanisms. Nevertheless, Just like other patents, we aren’t sure if the OPPO’s patent would debut as a commercial device.
HMD Global will be launching its Nokia 5.4 mid-range 4G smartphone in the US in a few weeks. The phone which launched in December in Europe is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
According to the listing on Amazon US, the Nokia 5.4 will be released on February 15, exactly 2 months after it was announced in Europe. The listing also reveals that there will be only one variant which has 4GB of RAM and 128G of expandable storage and a price tag of $249.99. In Europe, the phone is available in 4+64GB, 6+64GB, and 6+128GB with the base model selling for €189 (~$227).
The Nokia 5.4 has a 6.39-inch HD+ LCD screen with a hole at the top left corner of the screen for the front-facing camera. It is powered by the Snapdragon 662 processor which brings support for LTE.
The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor while the back is home to a quad-camera setup that includes a 48MP primary camera, a 5MP ultrawide angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. Below the cookie-shaped camera housing is a fingerprint scanner.
The Nokia 5.4 has a 4000mAh battery with support for 10W charging is a USB-C port. HMD Global claims that users should get up to 2 days of battery life. Even though this phone launched months after Android 11 was released, it runs Android 10 out of the box. However, the phone will get Android 11 as well as two years of software upgrades and 3 years of security updates.
You can pre-order the Nokia 5.4 now in Polar Night and Dusk color variants but note that there is no mention of an added benefit for pre-ordering. The phone is also listed on the Nokia Mobile US website with the same $249.99 price tag but you will have to wait until it launches before you can purchase it.
The rate at which the Samsung Galaxy A52 is leaking suggests that the device might go official anytime now. The latest to join are the images along with some specs appearing on TENAA.
If you recall, Samsung Galaxy A52 got listed on China’s TENAA two weeks ago. However, we didn’t have any info on the device. That ends today as the listing(via) now shows dimensions, display, and battery specs of the device. Under the model number SM-A5260, TENAA shows that the device will measure 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm.
Talking about the images, we see a Black variant listed with quad rear camera layout, power button, and volume buttons on the right, and centered punch-hole upfront. This goes in line with the earlier leak that said Samsung Galaxy A52‘s design won’t be that different from the predecessor.
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Further, the listing shows that the display will be of 6.46-inch in size which going by the past should be an sAMOLED display. The images show that it is the Infinity-O display as shown before. Moving on, the device will likely have a 4,500mAh battery which is a bit higher than the 4,000mAh on the Galaxy A51.
Other information on TENAA includes Android 11 OS, support SA/NSA 5G, and Dual-SIM connectivity.
Galaxy A52- Specifications (Expected)
Samsung Galaxy A52 is expected to arrive in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, and Awesome Blue colors and in 4G and 5G version. The former will likely have Snapdragon 720G chipset while the latter could sport Snapdragon 750G. The 5G variant is heading to multiple markets including India.
Valentine’s Day is almost two weeks away but OnePlus is already running a sale on this occasion in the US. The offers are only valid on the company’s official website up until February 17. Let us take a closer look at these deals.
OnePlus only has three smartphones on offer as part of its Valentine’s Day sale. These three phones are the OnePlus 8, the OnePlus 8 Pro, and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G. Also, the company only has a single variant of these handsets in stock.
It makes sense as the OnePlus 8 series has reached the end of its shelf life. Whereas, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G comes in a single variant only. With that being said, let us go through the offers.
OnePlus Valentine’s Day Sale Offers, Discounts, and Freebies
OnePlus 8
The OnePlus 8 is on sale with $100 off on the 8GB + 128GB variant in Glacial Green. In other words, interested customers can get this phone for $599 instead of its regular $699 selling price.
Additionally, customers can avail $500 off if they buy two units. Hence, they will have to only spend $898.
OnePlus 8 Pro
On the other hand, the OnePlus 8 Pro 12GB + 256GB variant in Ultramarine Blue is not only discounted by $200 but the customers also get a free Charcoal Black-colored OnePlus Urban Traveler Backpack.
That means the handset will only cost $799 for interested customers and they will be also getting a backpack worth $79 for free.
Oneplus Nord N10 5G
Unlike the other two smartphones, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G has not received any discount. But buyers can opt for a free bumper case or screen protector. For those unaware, this device costs $299.99
Daily Lucky Draw
Last but not least, OnePlus is also running a daily lucky draw through which participants can win smartphones, accessories, and free shipping vouchers.
That said, if you are interested in any of the above-mentioned offers, then do make sure to use them before the products go out of stock.
Fossil‘s latest Android Wear OS smartwatch dubbed Fossil Gen 5E was first launched in the US in October last year. The company has now unveiled the product for the Indian market.
The watch is a trimmed down version of the Gen 5 smartwatch that was launched last year. This model comes with cheaper pricing than its predecessor. However, it shares several features with the Gen 5 including features such as fitness tracking, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, etc.
The Fossil Gen 5E smartwatch is offered in two sizes – 42mm and 44mm. Both versions feature a 1.19-inch OLED display. The watch is powered by the older Snapdragon Wear 3100 which has been replaced with the Wear 4100 by Qualcomm this year.
The processor is paired with 1GB of RAM and there is 4GB of internal storage onboard. Providing the power is a 300mAh battery. The watch also comes with NFC and has 3ATM water resistance property.
Furthermore, the Watch 5E also crams a speaker and microphone inside which makes it suitable for users to make and answer calls straight from the watch. The watch can also be used to trigger the voice assistant onboard the connected smartphone. One feature that is lacking on this model is standalone GPS. In order to access your location, the watch needs to be connected to a smartphone. There is also no ambient light sensor, altimeter, or compass onboard this model.
As for the pricing and availability, the Fossil Gen 5E is available on Flipkart and is priced at Rs. 18,495 (~$253). The smartwatch comes in Black Silicone, Brown Leather, Black Stainless Steel, Two-tone Stainless Steel, Rose Gold-Tone Stainless Steel/Mesh, and Blush Silicone versions.
How often do you see brands like Google shoot for the stars when it comes to Smartphones? 2021 has started with a bang where we are going to witness more foldable devices. Among the lot, Google is also expected to launch a Foldable Pixel smartphone. And now, we might have some details regarding the same.
As spotted by windowsunited.de, we see two Patents filed by Google Inc., at WIPO(World Intellectual Property Organization). Publication numbered 2021/011949 and 20210018961, it shows that the designs in question has a hinge mechanism.
Talking about first, we see a more traditional hinge concept found on the many devices like the Huawei Mate Xsdevices. That is, an outward folding design with a cylindrical hinge vertically at the center. The thickness of the hinge might be a bid to compensate for the large outer folding curvature of the display.
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Hinge
Outward folding
Moving on, the second design is an inward folding display. However, the hinge is somewhat like the first Royole Flexpai and even Xiaomi’s early prototypes. From the images, we can see thick ridge-like structures supporting the frame. Google specifies it as a “plurality of hinge assemblies” suggesting a multi-segment hinge. One of the images also shows what looks to be a separate assembly with hinges to join the display and the frame.
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Inward folding
Multi-segment hinge
That said, this patent, filed back in July 2020 has been published on Jan. 21, 2021. We aren’t sure if this would be the final design but the fact that Google patenting both the inward/outward design is a welcoming sign to try out all possibilities.
In any case, we are sure to hear more about the Google Pixel Foldable in the near future. So what do you think about the foldable designs of Google? Do let us know in the comments below.
By announcing the Xiaomi Mi 11 by the end of December 2020, Xiaomi became the first company to launch a phone featuring the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. There have been rumors that the company will be launching the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro at some point this month. Fresh information shared by a known tipster from China suggests that the company could be planning to launch a third flagship phone in the Chinese market.
According to the tipster, Xiaomi will be launching three phones powered by Snapdragon 8-series chipsets. It is unclear whether he is talking about the Xiaomi Mi series or the Redmi K40 series. There is a possibility that the company may power its Mi series flagship phones with Snapdragon 8-series chips.
The Mi 11 has the SD888 chip and the same chip is likely to power the Mi 11 Pro. Since the tipster did not mention specifically whether the third device has an SD888 chip, it is likely that it may come equipped with the newly unveiled Snapdragon 870.
He added in the comments section of the Weibo post that instead of a waterfall curved display, the screens of the three phones have a slight curvature. He also said that the high-end version in the series is equipped with a 108-megapixel camera.
Recently, Xiaomi India Managing Director and Global VP confirmed that India will be receiving two Mi flagship phones with Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 870 SoC onboard. Interestingly, it is believed that a Xiaomi Mi 10 series phone could be equipped with the SD870 chip.
Hence, the three phones that the tipster could be talking about could be Snapdragon 888 powered Xiaomi Mi 11 and Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro smartphones and the Snapdragon 870 SoC powered Xiaomi Mi 10 series phone. Readers are advised to wait for further reports to know more about the upcoming flagship phones from the brand.
The TicWatch Pro 3 by Mobvoi is probably the best Google Wear OS smartwatch available in the market. It was launched in late September. Now, over four months after its release, the company has released a major update for this wearable.
Mobvoi is rolling out a new firmware for the original GPS variant of the Ticwatch Watch Pro 3 with version number PYDA.200427.080.MRB.210114.001. The new update brings some new features, improvements, and also a couple of fixes.
Like any other new update, it is being pushed in batches. Currently, it is only available for 30% of the users. As per the company, it should reach 50% of users by February 3 and 100% by February 4.
Talking about the changes, the latest update adds an option to change the date format on the watch’s secondary FSTN (Film compensated Super Twisted Nematic) LCD screen, which the brand calls essential screen.
Further, the next two features are also related to this secondary display. Users can now turn on the backlight using the power button while in essential mode and also turn off the essential screen’s auto-backlight in the Essential Mode app. Lastly, notification sound can be enabled from Settings > Sound > Ring volume.
As for improvements, the new update improves the speed of the tilt to wake the screen by about 1/4 second, smoothness of sliding, and pairing speed when pairing with Android devices. It also optimizes the responsive area at the edge of the screen, reduces the backlight brightness of the essential screen, and solves an issue related to steps in the essential mode being partially lost after restarting.
Last but not least, the latest firmware update fixes the essential screen’s backlight not lighting up by tilt to wake issue and function key double click gesture waking up other apps instead of Google Pay bug.
TicWatch Pro 3 Firmware Version PYDA.200427.080.MRB.210114.001 Official Changelog
Features:
Support adjusting the essential screen’s date format(DD-MM/MM-DD) through the Essential Mode app.
Support turning on the backlight through the power button in the essential mode.
Support turning off the essential screen’s auto-backlight in the Essential Mode app.
Enable the notification sound (Can be adjusted in Settings –> Sound –> Ring volume).
Improvements:
Improved the speed of the Tilt-to-wake screen by about 1/4 second.
Solved the issue where sometimes the steps in the essential mode might be partially lost after restarting.
Improved the smoothness of sliding.
Optimized the responsive area at the edge of the screen.
Reduced the backlight brightness of the essential screen.
Improved pairing speed when pairing with Android phones.
Bug Fixes:
Solved the issue that the essential screen’s backlight could not be lit up by Tilt-to wake under certain circumstances.
Fixed the issue that double-clicking the function key sometimes opens other apps instead of Google pay(if Google pay is available in your area).
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in late July 2020 as a better version of the original Galaxy Z Flip with support for 5G connectivity and a newer chipset. Now, six months after its release, this foldable smartphone has received its first permanent price cut in the US.
The South Korean tech giant debuted the Galaxy Z Flip 5G for $1,449. Samsung’s second vertical foldable smartphone comes with a matte finish, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ SoC, and 5G connectivity.
Half a year after its release, this handset’s price has been permanently dropped by $250. Hence, it is now listed at $1,199 on Samsung’s official website in the United States.
The new price makes the Galaxy Z Flip 5G cheaper than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Also, it now costs the same as the all-new Galaxy S21 Ultra.
But unfortunately, the device can be only bought in either Mystic Bronze or Mystic Gray. The Mystic White color variant that was released in late November is no longer in stock. And we don’t think it will ever come back as the company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in the near future.
That’s not all, interested customers can only buy this phone unlocked or via AT&T as other carrier variants are also marked as out of stock. Anyway, they can get up to $1,000 trade-in credit and opt for the Samsung Care+ plan.
As for Redmi Note 9T 5G, Xiaomi is launching a SoftBank exclusive version in Japan. The device will be available in two colors- Daybreak Purple, and Nightfall Black. You can take a look at the price marketed by Xiaomi below:
Redmi Note 9T 5G(4GB + 64GB)- 19,637 yen($187)
If you look at the price, it’s cheaper than the Global pricing which was around EUR 229/$276 for the same variant. However, it is worth noting that the SoftBank website lists the price as 21,600 yen($206) which includes Tax.
Anyway, the SoftBank listing says that the reservations begin on February 3 at 10:00 AM local time. Availability is vaguely quoted after the end of February 2021.
Redmi 9T Japan
The Redmi 9T, unlike the Note 9T, doesn’t come as an exclusive model. The Japanese version comes only in two colors- Ocean Green, Carbon Gray. You can take a look at the price below:
Redmi 9T(4GB + 64GB)- 15,900 yen($151)
It will go on sale from February 5. This single variant will be available on MVNOs(Mobile Virtual Network Operators) like Aeonmobile, IIJmio, goo Simseller, Biglobe Mobile.
You can also get the SIM-free models across online platforms like Amazon, murauchi.com, and vendors like Yamada, Joshin, etc.
Redmi Note 9T, Redmi 9T Specifications and Features
Redmi Note 9T features a 6.53-inch FHD+ top-left punch-hole display with 450 nits brightness & Gorilla Glass 5, MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset, triple-camera with a 48MP sensor, 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging(acc to Japan website), side-mounted fingerprint, MIUI 12(Android 10).
Redmi 9T sports a 6.53-inch dot-drop notch FHD+ display with 400 nits, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC chipset, quad-camera with a 48MP sensor, side-mounted fingerprint, microSD up to 512GB, 6,000mAh battery with 18W charging, MIUI 12(Android 10).
Unlike its predecessor, the Mi 10 5G, Xiaomi didn’t announce a Mi 11 Pro alongside the standard version. Nevertheless, a pro model is coming in the not too distant future, and like all pro models, it should have better specs, and of course, a higher price tag.
In this post, we will talk about what we expect from Xiaomi with the Mi 11 Pro in terms of specs and performance, issues from the Mi 11 we expect to have been fixed, and also the reasons why we believe the phone was delayed.
Mi 11 Pro Specs (what we know so far)
The Mi 11 Pro is expected to come with a 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate just as the standard model. We don’t know what the screen size will be seeing as the Mi 11 has a pretty big 6.81-inch screen. Our guess is that the screen size will remain the same based on the fact that the Mi 10 5G ad Mi 10 Pro 5G both have the same screen size.
We expect the same Snapdragon 888 that’s found on the Mi 11 on the Pro model and it should be paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There is also a possibility that Xiaomi will announce a 16GB RAM version that comes with 512GB of storage. Just like last year’s Mi 10 Pro, there shouldn’t be support for storage expansion.
A leak says the Mi 10 Pro will have a 5000mAh battery capacity which is a significant bump compared to the Mi 11’s 4600mAh battery. It should come with support for faster wired and wireless charging, and if reports are true, that should be 120W and 67W respectively. We also expect the phone to have support for Quick Charge 5.
Other expected features are stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint scanner which should double as a heart rate scanner as in the standard version, NFC, an IR sensor, Wi-Fi 6, and maybe even Wi-Fi 6E.
Mi 11 Pro Cameras
We decided to give the cameras a separate section as it is a very important aspect of the phone.
Xiaomi has set a high standard with respect to camera performance with the Mi 10 Ultra. The China-exclusive flagship sits at the third spot on DxOMark‘s list of smartphones with the best camera. The two devices that sit at the first and second positions are the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ and Mate 40 Pro respectively.
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
So what do we expect from Xiaomi for the Mi 11 Pro’s cameras? Cameras that are better than what we have on the Mi 11.
The Mi 11’s cameras are okay at best but they can’t match the Mi 10 Ultra which is Xiaomi’s best camera smartphone. A leaked poster alleged to be that of the Mi 11 Pro shows the phone will have four rear cameras and 120x zoom but we will take it with a pinch of salt.
If we were to take a wild guess, we’d say the Mi 11 Pro will launch with a camera configuration similar to that of the Mi 10 Ultra but with better optimizations. This means a 48MP main camera, another 48MP camera with OIS for the periscope lens which brings 120x hybrid zoom, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a 20MP ultrawide camera.
You might be wondering if simply copying the camera configuration from the Mi 10 Ultra makes sense, but it does when you realize that the Mi 10 Ultra is a China-exclusive product, which means most of Xiaomi’s international customers didn’t get to experience the phone’s camera prowess. What better way to bring that camera experience to the global market than via the Mi 11 Pro?
As we said above, Xiaomi isn’t just lifting the sensors but also fine-tuning them. The sensors can be optimized to take advantage of the Snapdragon 888’s Spectra 580 triple image signal processor to churn out better photos than the Mi 10 Ultra.
Issues from the Mi 11 we expect Xiaomi to have fixed in the Mi 11 Pro
Reviews have shown that the Mi 11 is not a perfect flagship. We covered the issues we experienced with our unit, and we hope most, if not all, of these issues, have been fixed ahead of the release of the global version next week. However, we expect even better performance from the Mi 11 Pro.
Better software – one of the issues we noticed with the Mi 11 is app crashes. This happens with the camera app and some games. This is probably a software issue (MIUI) and we expect Xiaomi to have fixed them. While it is not uncommon for a device to have software issues out of the box, it is not a good experience nonetheless. We also expect Xiaomi to have fine-tuned its software to work better with the Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Better cooling – the Snapdragon 888 is known to heat up quickly when gaming and when it does that, the processing power is throttled down to manage the heat which affects the game. While this is definitely an issue with the chipset (this is Qualcomm’s first 5nm chipset after all), Xiaomi may be able to better manage it with a better cooling system.
Better build – the Mi 11 comes in a vegan leather version that is practically a plastic panel with a polyurethane coating. Our unit rattles when you play an audio file via the loudspeaker which points to a problem with the build quality. We do not know if this is the same experience with the version with a glass back, but if Xiaomi plans to release vegan leather options for the Mi 11 Pro, then it needs to note this issue and fix it in the new model
Why the Mi 11 Pro didn’t launch alongside the Mi 11
It came as a surprise when Xiaomi only announced the Mi 11 at the phone’s launch event in December 2020. However, we want to believe it was a calculated decision. Below are the reasons we came up with as to why the Mi 11 Pro’s launch was delayed:
Giving the Mi 11 its own stage to shine – If the Mi 11 Pro had launched alongside the Mi 11, it would have overshadowed it. See phones like the Galaxy S21 series – the S21 Ultra is getting more attention than the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus. By splitting the launches, the Mi 11 had the stage to itself and all the attention.
A headstart in terms of sales – The Mi 11 not only launched early but also went on sale shortly after. According to Xiaomi, it has sold more than 1 million units and that is for China alone. When the phone launches in other markets next week, that number is expected to double. If the Mi 11 Pro had launched alongside the Mi 11, sales would have been split between both.
Of course, the total sales figure would probably have been higher but buyers would have had to decide which of the two phones to purchase, and the Mi 11 may not have sold so many units. However, by launching the Mi 11 and keeping a tight lip on the existence of a pro model, buyers will have no choice but to pick up the available model.
More time for development – Another reason why the Mi 11 Pro got delayed may be due to Xiaomi requiring more time for development. There is a possibility that certain components or technologies they need are not yet available or perfected, hence the reason for delaying its launch.
Conclusion
There definitely is a lot to look forward to in the Mi 11 Pro and if the additional development time means a better device, then a few months of delay is worth it.
There are reports that the Mi Pro will be announced after the Spring Festival holiday which means it may launch before the end of this month. Just like the standard version, the phone should be unveiled in China first before a global debut later. Going by the Mi 10, the time frame between the Chinese launch and global launch should be nothing less than a month.
Corning has announced that it is currently expanding the production of its Gen 10.5 liquid crystal display (LCD) glass substrate factories in China. The move arrives after high demand for TVs and other IT products.
According to TheElecreport, the company stated that the healthy demand for TVs and other products have caused them to see high demand, especially for large sized TVs. Over the last year, the demand for 75 inch TVs grew by over 60 percent in comparison to 2019. At the moment, the Gen 10.5 has had the best production efficiency for large TV substrates. So, the company aims on expanding production at its Guangzhou and Wuhan plants in China.
Furthermore, Corning also has the Gen 8.5 glass substrates plants in Beijing and Chongqing. Tony Tripeny, the company’s CEO, stated that Corning is expecting sales of 3 billion US Dollars to 3.2 billion US Dollars within just the first quarter of this year. This mark an increase of over 20 percent year on year in comparison to 2020, which had it register 2.5 billion US Dollars in sales. Similarly, other display makers are also pushing towards raising production capacity in the region as well.
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